Charles Manson's alleged grandson claims he is innocent: 'He said his hands are clean'

A man who claims to be the grandson of mass murdererCharles Manson says the wild-eyed cult leader was a "loving, compassionate man".

Jason Freeman, a 41-year-old oil rig worker and father-of-three from Florida, has long believed he is the grandson of the convicted murderer -- who died November 19 aged 83 -- born to Charles Manson Jr. in 1976.

Following Manson's death this week, Freeman is opening up about his efforts to have a relationship with the man who became one of the most notorious criminals in America's history.

Freeman first learnt about the close family connection as a teen, and says that he talked to Manson by phone from prison for years, Peoplereports. However, the publication was unable to verify Freeman's claims as California corrections officials declined to comment on the matter.

According to the New York Times, Manson was married twice, however, both marriages ended in divorce. He was believed to have fathered at least two children.

Image: Getty

Freeman also produced multiple birth and death documents he says prove his grandmother was Manson's first wife, Rosalie Willis, but People was unable to independently verify their authenticity.

Manson was responsible for a two-day murder spree in August 1969 in Los Angeles, when Manson ordered his "family" to kill seven people, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate.

Source: Jason Freeman Mason/Facebook

But Freeman, who is working on a documentary tentatively titled, Manson's Bloodline, claims that Manson told him he never instructed his followers to kill.

"He specifically said he did not kill Sharon Tate or anybody in that house," Freeman told the publication. "He would never hurt a human with a baby inside of them."

"He said his hands are clean," Freeman added.

However, those familiar with the facts would disagree, and he was found guilty of seven counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in April 1971.

Freeman has now enlisted an attorney to petition for control of Manson's estate and is pushing for Manson to be cremated.

“Until I can make a rational decision about what to do next, I’d just like to have my grandfather’s remains sitting there with me,” he told the SF Gate.